Smarhon
District Court has found two members of the Pahonia independent art group, as
well as local pro-democratic activist Uladzimir Shulzhytski, guilty of
participating in an illegal manifestation staged in the town on 3 September to mark
the birthday of Rastsislau Lapitski, leader of an anti-Communist movement of
late 1950s.

Artists
Valiantsin Varanishcha and Henadz Drazdou have been fined 3 and 1 mln. rubles
respectively, while activist Uladzimir Shulzhytski has been sentenced to a 3
mln. fine.

The trial
of another member of Pahonia Ales Pushkin will be resumed on 24 September.

The
defendants were tried without any legal support, after it turned out that none
of local lawyers agreed to represent them in court. However, they say that the
necessary agreements for legal protection have been signed last Monday.